A Virtual Mix Tape for You- Volume Two

Before I start in with my music selections, let me give a quick update to the job situation.......OH, there's nothing to update......not really. That's the main reason I haven't posted anything. I'm just afraid everything I write will sound too down in the dumps, so I've chosen to refrain from posting. I have several blogs in the works, but until I can really focus, they will remain on the "to be edited" shelf.

Volume Two of the virtual mix tape is my way of utilzing one of the things on my Happy List.
And, if you missed it, you can see Volume One here.

Click on the title to link to the song on YouTube.

Falling Slowly - Glen Hanserd and Marketa Irglova...from the movie Once. I love this movie and the words of this song really speak to me. Listen to the song and watch the movie!

Seeing Red - Unwritten Law...I first heard this in 2001 when it came out as a single. That year was another trying time not unlike what I'm experiencing now. Also, this song makes me want to bounce around!

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Doris Day....there are so many versions of this traditional spanish song (Quizas, Quizas, Quizas) but this is my favorite. Cake's version is a close second. This version is used in the movie Strictly Ballroom and I love that movie!

Tear In Your Hand - Tori Amos....this is from the Little Earthquakes cd which, in my opinion, is the best Tori cd of all time. I'm a book geek and I love that she mentions her friend and author, Neil Gaiman, in this song.....plus, I love the lyrics!

Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap.....this is from Speak for Yourself and I loved it the moment I heard it.....who puts the word "sewing machine" in a song?!? I was destined to love her and the entire cd. Not only that, she recorded the whole cd in her flat!

Kayleigh - Marillion.....this is a song from the 80's and you can tell by the video it was recorded while the Cold War was still a very real thing. I don't know much about the band, but I loved this song when I was in the 7th or 8th grade.

Sara - Bob Dylan....one of the best love songs ever written. I'd love to have a song this beautiful written about me. Say what you want about Bob's voice, but he'll always be a master with lyrics!

Candy - Iggy Pop and Kate Pierson....one of the best collaborations of all time!

To This We've Come - Eileen Farrell....one of the most beautiful and moving arias ever written. It is from The Cosul, written by Gian Carlo Menotti and is often called the Papers Aria or Magda's Aria. It's an 8 minute aria, but it's in English so I hope you'll listen to it even if you don't like opera.......it's so worth it!

Useless Desires - Patty Griffin...one of the greatest songwriters of all time! This is the first song I really fell in love with and it's still one of my favorites! This is a pretty poor live recording, but it's the best I could find so it will have to do.

Everytime You Cry - The Outfield.....classic 80's rock ballad. This takes me back to the summer of '86. Such good memories. I still have the concert t-shirt from this tour.

The Interview Process

Just a quick update on the interview I had today!

This was the first round of interviews and it went well. They have a list of questions they ask each candidate. Of course, I feel I did well, but I won't know until Friday afternoon if I've made it to the next round of interviews.

The job would be challenging and at times very time consuming, but it would be in a field I love! Being busy has never been something that bothers me or stresses me out. In fact, those who know me understand I like to stay busy because of my irrational fear I'll be perceived as being lazy. [And let me tell you......5 weeks of not working has been a challenge, to say the least!]

Thanks to all who have sent me well wishes via, e-mail, text message, myspace, facebook and this blog! I'm feeling confident I'll make it to the next round of interviews, but it's still difficult to wait. If I make it to the next round, I'll most likely have another interview next Wednesday.......and I don't know what will happen from there, but I'll keep posting updates here when I have any news.

I really, really think this is the job for me! I'm excited!

Waxing Poetic

I've already posted a couple of poems here and I intend to post more in the weeks to come. I'm not sure if I'll be posting any new stuff I've written or if it will be stuff from long ago.....BUT, in preparation and anticipation of some readers who either think they're not into poetry or who just don't understand it, I offer this trilogy of poems written to a friend who was reluctant to embrace even the simplest of poems. The poems are written from the Poetry's point of view:

A Cheesy Poem for My Friend (from Poetry, herself), In Three Parts

Part 1

You may not think you like me
I can really understand
With all the flowery mumbo jumbo
And words which seem so grand
But I can take on many forms
And I'm often not so "rhymey"
So if you ever change your mind
Call Heather and she'll help you try me!

Part 2

Please, don't
flee-
I don't blame you for
being reluctant
Poetry is like change
despised
feared
misunderstood
I don't want to change you
I just want a chance.

Part 3

I sat and thought of you today...
Hoping you would look me up
and invite me into your life.
I know, if I am patient, I will
Win you over.
In that respect, we are alike-
Both of us prizes
Each in our own right!
But you cannot see that
because you shut me out.
Please, please don't hate me because I'm Poetry!

Update and Links!

At the time of my post last Thursday, things were really starting to get me down. But I'm happy to report I have a job interview this Wednesday with the American Cancer Society for their position of Community Relations! Not only is the news of an interview exciting, but it's doing the sort of job I love most!



Probably the most fulfilling job I've had, to date, was my seven years as Community Relations Manager for B & N! Not only did I love the type of work, but it came easy to me and it didn't feel like "work"! I didn't leave the job because I was dissatisfied with what I was doing, but because I had some major differences with the manager and knew they would never get any better, so I chose to move on before he chose to try and move me out. Everyday I have missed that job and I'm so encouraged I've got the opportunity to get back into the same field! I'll let everyone know how things go on Wednesday!



Here are some links I've "stumbled upon" and just can't get enough of! [Don't know what I mean by "stumbled upon? Find out more HERE]

The Eyeballing Game - I could seriously do this for hours every day.......okay, sometimes I DO this for hours every day. I think the site is self explanatory, but if you don't understand what to do, let me know and I'll help you out!

Watch Free Movies - Seriously......no strings! There are NEW movies here (I just watched Kung Fu Panda and it was only released on DVD today!) No registration required just click and watch!

Sage Advice

The job hunt is going very slowly and my severance will stop on the 15th of this month. I started the paperwork for unemployment benefits, but I found out today that the corporate office is going to protest it and try to deny me.........I have the ammunition to fight, but I'd rather just find a job and not have to deal with it.

I'm trying very hard not to be stressed, but I'm starting to feel the panic rise. So, my very wise and constant IM friend mentioned that I might look at some of the job leads I've gotten for sales and I shut him down immediately. True sales people are horrible to work for and with. I asked my friend if he thought I was being stubborn and he gave me some very good advice. He said he thought I should look into a sales job as an interim possibility.....to get some income flowing.....and then continue my job search from there. I still don't want to work in sales, but I also don't want to be homeless and I don't know how long it will take to resolve the disputed unemployment claim.

If I thought I could bring in enough money right now just sewing and designing, I'd go ahead with that, but I don't like the unknown and there are too many unknowns involved with that.....the main one being, "How much money will I make?" I need to know my bills will be covered. End of story.

I'm off to apply for more jobs!

The Dawning of A New Day

I'm almost speechless about the outcome of the election. I'm thrilled to have been witness to such an historic event and am happy to have been a part of making it happen.

I don't write many blogs about politics and this one won't be long or overly political. As one of the unemployed on the beginning edge of a recession, tonight's victory brings me hope. I look forward to the new administration of Barack Obama and their ability to repair the damage of the last 8 years.

I'm off to bed for the deep sleep of the contented.
I leave you with my favorite cartoon of this election season......it explains one of the biggest reasons America needed this change.

A Poem

I just got back from a few days at my parents and I got to see all of the kiddos (well, 9 of the 12) and I'm feeling refreshed from being surrounded by all the love. It's so comforting to know that love will be there no matter what and it's not dependant on what I do, how I live or who I love. I fully realize there are lots of people who don't know that kind of love and it is so hard for me to understand.....it just baffles me.

This is a poem I wrote my last year in college about a friend who didn't know what unconditional love was like.

[Untitled- for Rich]

Sorry, my longtime friend.
I begin with an apology....

why?

Because I never knew

Your Pain.

never heard it in your voice
never saw it in your eyes
never suspected it in your life.

But tonight--
tonight I sat and digested all of

Your Pain

expressed through written words.

What a heavy pen you use!
(Borne like a martyr's cross)

Yet, through that cross I know
you've obtained liberation--
Liberation of a sort,
but not an easing of

Your Pain

(I didn't realize how alone
you must have felt)

I know I couldn't have stopped

Your Pain

but I should have noticed
your furrowed brow
your eyes which seemed so old
(please forgive my blindness)

Now I sit and think of you--
searching my heart
trying to feel

Your Pain

But--
I cannot
because

Your Pain

is one that you have chosen,
not one that was forced upon you.

So, I end with an apology--
Sorry, my longtime friend
I never knew
Your Pain